Human Rights Committee examines Liberia’s initial human rights report

The Human Rights Committee this morning concluded the review of the initial report of Liberia on its implementation of the provisions of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights in the country.

Presenting the report, Juah Nancy Cassell, Deputy Minister for Administration and Public Safety at the Ministry of Justice of Liberia, reminded that 2017 had marked a significant milestone for Liberia as a post-conflict country. First, the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) had successfully concluded its 14-year-old mandate, restoring the rule of law and re-establishing a constitutional democratic order. Second, there was a smooth constitutional transfer of authority from the administration of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to President George Manneh Weah. Although very young, the new Government was committed to review and make necessary reforms, namely those relating to the citizenship and land ownership laws. Additionally, the Government had made progress in protecting freedom of speech and expression, and it was working to address rampant abuses against women and children in the aftermath of the civil war.

In the ensuing discussion, Committee Experts expressed concerns about the discrepancies between customary and statutory law, namely that under customary law the age of marriage was 16, and that polygamy was permissible. They also inquired about multiple discrimination against persons with albinism, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex persons, the prevalence of sexual violence against women and girls, domestic violence against women, criminalization of abortion, accountability for conflict-related crimes, counter-terrorism legislation, gender equality in the political process, and the nationality law. Committee Experts also asked about the difference between “customary marriage” and “statutory marriage,” and about witchcraft and ritual killings, female genital mutilation, the status of the death penalty, use of force by the police, forced and child labour, sexual slavery, prison overcrowding and pre-trial detention, corruption in the judiciary, corporal punishment, birth registration, freedom of expression and assembly, refugees, and the status of customary lands.

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Joel Cholo Brooks is a Liberian journalist who previously worked for several international news outlets including the BBC African Service. He is the CEO of the Global News Network which publishes two local weeklies, The Star and The GNN-Liberia Newspapers. He is a member of the Press Union Of Liberia (PUL) since 1986, and several other international organizations of journalists, and is currently contributing to the South Africa Broadcasting Corporation as Liberia Correspondent.